Tag Archives: versatile

Here at HEUCY, every single dress and jumpsuit is thoughtfully designed, with our beloved HEUCY Gal’s needs in mind. Some of the questions and considerations we mull over, throughout the design process, include:

Can she go, effortlessly, from drop-off to a morning meeting to work lunch to a mani/pedi (somewhat aspirational) to drinks with colleagues to dinner with friends…and then wherever the night takes her…in one dress?

Will she feel comfortable doing the multitude of things that make up her day? Can she jump over puddles, walk briskly and/or run in this outfit? In other words, will the fabric move with her rather than against her?

Can she wear this dress on a work trip, and not worry about being a mess of wrinkles at her 8am meeting and her 8pm client dinner?

Can she wear this jumpsuit on a long flight with the kids and still feel like a human when she arrives at her destination?

Can she get dirty in this dress, and not worry about it because it’s machine washable, sustainable fabric that can take the wear and tear of a HEUCY Gal’s life?

The answer to all of these questions is…YES! The latest installment in the Spring collection, the Cover Up, is a testament to HEUCY’s commitment to YOU — and our goal to accommodate your dynamic, busy lifestyle. Added value: it comes in a gorgeous bright blue mariner stripe that will remind you it’s Spring! And then Summer.

At HEUCY, we are crushing on French women in general. They defy our 21st century puritanical “wisdom” — dairy, alcohol, sugar, caffeine and cigarettes seem to make these women look better than us. While we drink our green juices and pound out e-mails and cross off to-do lists, our counterparts in Paris are eating steak frites and having boozy lunches. (Our biggest girl crush now is Mimi Thorisson, whose blog Manger is a must-read for any HEUCY Gal. She cooks, parents, works, writes, grows wine…and clearly enjoys eating. Love her.)

I know this isn’t news to anyone. Countless books and articles have been written on the topic. So why am I writing about it now? Well, HEUCY thinks the most inspiring thing about French ladies is their ability to look great — nay, amazing — at all times of the day. Their casual, “day” dressing looks chic and effortless. You don’t see a lot of workout gear on the Champs Elysees. And French women prove that it’s possible to keep a few, well-made pieces — a uniform — in the closet, and use your personal style to make your clothes, and YOU, look great. HEUCY wants to bring this French ethos to American ladies who are craving the same French look…via thoughtful, American-made garments. Because, guess what? American women are pretty awesome too. Yes, that would be you 🙂

Here’s our across-the-pond translation of the HEUCY #ProblemSolver going from day-to-night…this is a dress that screams “Audrey Tatou cute meets Marion Cotillard cool meets the reality of modern woman’s crazy life.” And in the spirit of classic, timeless dressing, all of the accessories are “HEUCY’s own” — including the martini fixins for a night out on the town and our fave @wilburandgussie bag.

When we asked our friend and HEUCY Gal Deanne Yee, “What does being chic mean to you?”, she said, “Feeling confident in your own skin!” 🙂

We thought this was a brilliant answer. And it led us to wonder, how can you feel confident…on days when you’re not feeling so great about yourself? When you haven’t washed your hair, or you’re in a rut at work, or you’ve gained a few pounds after stress-eating during last night’s episode of “Homeland”.

1. Stand tall, with good posture. To be honest, we’re not a huge fan of this one because it requires core strength and anyone who has had children knows how unrealistic this is. But unfortunately, it does make sense.

2. Listen to music, specifically bass-heavy tunes. Not a problem when your child has figured out how to operate Sonos and Spotify.

3. Think of a time when you were powerful. This can include career success, childbirth…or doing something exceptional like keeping your calm while in line at the DMV. Or Starbucks. Don’t discount those little victories.

4. “Indulge in your morning ritual”…wow. When is the last time you actually took time to be “mindful” in the morning, while getting dressed? Truth be told (embarrassing disclosure), sometimes we are so frazzled in the morning, we forget to brush our teeth. After washing down an onion bagel with a large cup of coffee. But I digress. At HEUCY, our goal is to create a collection that gives women more time to do this — to think about themselves, and their loved ones, and their day ahead…and to brush their teeth — instead of tearing their closets apart in the morning in an effort to find something appropriate/versatile/clean to wear.

5. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Literally and figuratively speaking. We take this one to heart at HEUCY. If you want to look like like a grown up, you should dress like one. Comfortable, versatile and chic clothes are a large part of the equation here.

6. Think of your favorite celebrities, and their best qualities. Channel those. Right now we are crushing on any celeb who chooses to grow old gracefully, has a sense of humor AND does something to help the environment and/or people in need. Oh, and we like the really talented ones. This narrows the list a bit, but Natalie Portman immediately comes to mind…and others who will hopefully be wearing HEUCY one day!

7. Yoga and stretching. If you can’t go to a yoga class, you can just lie down in child’s pose and pray that no one bothers you. (Hiding in a closet works here).

8. Learn something new or pursue an interest outside of your day-to-day. Spanish, Algebra, backgammon, an art class…anything. I know, it’s easier said than done. But getting out of your comfort zone can set you up for a lot of personal success. And sometimes the best kind of success is the kind you feel, rather than what people immediately see.

This morning I ran into two women wearing HEUCY, looking amazing. Then I received two more photos of gals in HEUCY…at the office and out and about. It was like HEUCY meets “Where’s Waldo”…and it made me so happy, to see how my friends — and friends of friends — are embracing what we call #Heucylife. Wearing chic, versatile and comfortable clothes and accessorizing them on their own terms. And looking happy and confident! We are absolutely LOVING seeing our merchandise on real women who inspire us…our #HEUCYGals!

Anyhoo, later this afternoon I was chatting with someone in my elevator about how unseasonably humid and warm it is in New York. We were complaining and agreed that it should definitely be colder. We should be wearing tights and scarves and camel coats, channeling Ali McGraw from “Love Story” (just the happy parts) and/or Anne Hathaway’s makeover in “The Devil Wears Prada.” We were talking along these lines, when our lovely elevator operator chimed in, “You know, it’s the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.”

We stopped talking for a second. That’s right, I thought. This time two years ago, my family and I watched a gigantic green explosion happen (seemingly) right outside of our window. It turned out, that was the Con Edison plant that supplied our electricity downtown. We never imagined — in our wildest dreams — that we would be out of running water and without power for weeks. And we had absolutely no idea that Sandy would completely devastate people’s lives in parts of New York like Red Hook, Staten Island and beyond. My heart still goes out to people who experienced the aftermath in those areas. We were able to escape until our power came back. Some people had nowhere to go.

So today, my mind goes back to being incredibly thankful. We appreciate that so many wonderful ladies have chosen to take a chance on HEUCY — and they’re looking (and feeling) amazing in the clothes! And we are so grateful for all of the blessings in life, especially in the context of Sandy and its aftermath just two years ago. A more worthy topic to write about today…than perhaps #nationalcatday and #nationaloatmealday (who knew?). Although I do love a good oatmeal cookie.

One of us recently jetted off to Rome (okay, flew…via Alitalia) sans kids, with hubby and four HEUCY picks in tow. We thought it would be interesting to see how HEUCY reallytravels. Is it possible to eat, drink, sight-see and gallivant, entirely in HEUCY? Now we can say — emphatically and from experience — YES, it is possible. And enjoyable. You feel so much freer with just a carry-on!

We also thought, wouldn’t it be nice to post a travel guide for a real modern woman — someone who wants to see the sights, but also enjoys a little downtime while on vacation? Real life is hectic. Travel should be relaxing. And somewhat affordable. Just like our clothes.

So…Below is our itinerary, which includes a list of outfits plus lots of great Rome travel recommendations. Enjoy!!

Friday: Arrive in Rome, around noon. Wore the HEUCY #PerfectTen dress for roughly 24 hours, including on the overnight flight. As comfortable as PJ’s, but sophisticated enough to garner lounge access.

Stayed at: Hotel de Russie. An incredibly chic, smallish boutique hotel right off the Piazza del Popolo, just steps from the Borghese Gardens. When we saw the courtyard, we were happy.

After a piadina, some espresso, some vino biancho, a nap, a shower and a change into the HEUCY #HighSchoolReunion (hey, you never know who you’ll run into in Roma), we walked around the Spanish Steps and met up with our friends for dinner at Dal Bolognese, also on the Piazza del Popolo. The most. amazing. truffles. ever. The weight gain begins here, but we tell ourselves that a) European wine does not have tannins. Therefore no hangover. And b) you can’t gain weight in Europe because the food is not processed. No looking back now.

Saturday: sight-seeing, eating, drinking and shopping

After a good night’s sleep, we woke and ambled toward the “historic heart” of Rome — Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Campo de Fiori. We stopped by Sant’Eustachio for un caffe e agostina with nutella. OMG. Words cannot describe how delicious. I wore the HEUCY #AlterEgo Jumpsuit all day — comfort with a little bit of edge — perfetto for walking around the ancient city.

I remembered being absolutely floored by the Pantheon twenty years before, when I had studied in Rome (we’ll get to that later). Built in 120 A.D., still standing, a true architectural marvel. Oh, and Raphael is buried there. What, exactly, have I been doing with my time? Hmmm.

After a stroll around the Campo de Fiori, we were hungry again. We had a long, leisurely lunch at Pier Luigi…a fabulous seafood restaurant in a secluded alley off the Campo. Afternoon light, some delicious sea bass, vino biancho and espresso. Heaven.

After lunch, we strolled down to Il Giolitti for gelato. It was a bit like an arms race to get my cone of straciatella, but definitely worth the fight. Conveniently, there was an adorable children’s clothing store, Boutique ZeroSei, located just a few steps away. I had my HEUCY for the trip, so didn’t really need to shop for myself. My daughter got very lucky that day.

Back at the hotel, we were delighted to see paparazzi. I started to help myself to a bar that seemed to have just “popped up out of nowhere” in the hotel lobby, but was swiftly turned away because I was not “with Universal.” My imagination was abuzz, who could it be? I decided to wear my HEUCY #DateNight dress that night, to wow this celeb.

We dined at a charming open-air restaurant called Antica Pesa that eve, in Trastevere, and discovered that our hotel celeb was there too! I mean, what are the odds? And can you guess who it was? None other than Richard “Riccardo” Gere. Luckily, I felt like “Pretty Woman” in my Date Night!

Sunday — day trip to Castelgandolfo and Nemi, two very cute villages on Lake Albano. Normally a thirty minute drive outside of Rome. But we had forgotten how seriously Romans take their Sunday lunch, so it took a bit longer than expected to get to our first spot.

We lunched on the terrace at Antico Ristorante Pagnanelli, in Castelgandolfo. Delicious grilled herbs. And wine. And espresso. You know, when in Rome…our just outside…

Back in Rome, we caught the sunset at the Borghese Gardens. And then dined outside at Emma, a wonderful new pizzeria off the beaten path on Monte della Farina. I was sporting my HEUCY #HighSchoolReunion dress again. Too comfy to just wear once. And the elastic waistband was forgiving. I indulged in pizza con funghi e prosciutto as well as a few Peroni.

Monday — a tour of the Vatican and a stroll down memory lane (literally and figuratively)

Monday morning we woke very early and I put on my HEUCY #PerfectTen (shoulders covered, knees sort of) to meet our guide at the Vatican for a semi-private tour of the Vatican museum, St. Peter’s and other surprises we were definitely not expecting. Angelo Amorico, our wonderful guide from Access Italy, greeted us at a cafe and told us he had just taken Oprah truffle hunting in Umbria. I thought to myself, hey, if this guy is good enough for Oprah…then I suppose he’s good enough for me. It turns out, Angelo is fairly well-connected in Italy and in Hollywood. And he looks a bit like Robert de Niro. Surreal morning.

Inside the the Vatican museums, the Raphael rooms, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s, we were again reminded that we are just mere mortals. Honestly, how did people build structures like this without modern technology? And how did Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel and sculpt The Pieta with chronic back pain and corrupt clergy breathing down his neck? Seriously awe-inspiring.

One of the surprises Angelo showed us was quite impressive. We went “backstage” to meet some of The Vatican’s renowned mosaic artists, who create the works that Il Papa (The Pope) gives to world leaders. The level of detail and craftsmanship in their works is truly amazing. Does the picture below look like a painting? It’s actually a mosaic. We got to see some of the artists in action.

We kissed Angelo goodbye, promised to say hello to Oprah for him…and headed toward the Aventine Hill, where I had studied abroad almost twenty years ago. It’s located near many awesome Roman ruins, such as the Roman Forum on the Palatine Hill, an ancient aqueduct, the Circus Maximus, the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum, the Via Sacra and the Arch of Titus. And much, much more.

I felt like Jason Bourne as we walked through the lovely orange grove park where I used to “study” and we found the Convento di Suore Camaldolesi, the convent where the students in my program had studied and lived. I was having flashbacks of discotheques in Testaccio and not really studying. The Suore were kind enough to house and feed us, and to turn a blind eye to our night-time activities. We were 20 and in Europe, sine parente. Nuff said.

I really should not be sharing this class photo, for a variety of reasons (namely, my roots and a very obvious love of carbs)…but I have to. What on earth was I thinking, wearing a chunky cable knit sweater when I could have been wearing easy-to-pack jersey dresses and feeling like Audrey Hepburn? If only HEUCY had been available then. Oh, well. You live and you learn.

Feeling a bit exhausted — mentally, emotionally and physically — we headed to Da Pietro, a lovely Roman hosteria recommended by Angelo. Really yummy pasta y fagioli and — yep, you guessed it — vino biancho. We were on vacation, after all.

After an afternoon nap and a stroll around the Piazza, we had a lovely dinner at the bar at Roscioli and a nightcap in the courtyard at the hotel. I paired my HEUCY #PerfectTen dress with my mom’s vintage belt, and some diamond earrings. Full disclosure: the carbonara did make my belt feel tighter…but that’s the beauty of accessorizing. You can just take the belt off!

In celebration of The Moulin Rouge’s 125th anniversary (which, for some reason, makes us feel old…we wish we had been contemporaries of Toulouse Lautrec), here’s HEUCY’s #ProblemSolver in our favorite shade of Red. Bright and bold and paired with leopard. And made in the USA. Get ready for the holidays, ladies! Available for pre-order now at heucy.com.

Was anyone else up last night, after normal bedtime, watching the new season premiere of “Homeland”…and then lying in bed, mind reeling, wondering how everything will play out? Some pretty deep, dark stuff. Almost too much to handle on a Sunday night.

The HEUCY team was also thinking, how can Carrie wear a cross-body bag when she’s gathering intelligence and fighting terrorism? A backpack would be so much more practical. Our model is wearing one here, with the HEUCY #PerfectTen dress…which, come to think of it, would be much more comfortable and versatile than those pantsuits Carrie keeps wearing. Perfect for overnight flights too.

Coming soon: our list of the Top Ten Backpacks, as this is one trend that might be here for a while. We heart backpacks at HEUCY. They hold A LOT of belongings and save your back A LOT of pain! Also, you can switch to “front carriage” mode if you’re worried about getting mugged on the subway. Or, in Carrie’s case, dodging all sorts of danger.